A customer wants a specific telephone number for his business. I know it's available. It is in a block of numbers in the 631-749- exchange.

Our town has only that exchange. A few years ago, when Cablevision got into the phone biz, they were assigned the 5xxx group by...(WHOM?) That's question #1.

Cablevision upper management claims that they have no method or policy by which a really rich, really big potential customer can be granted a particular number, because all their line assignments (that's a BOC term, not theirs) are done "by computer." Question #2 Does that sound logical?

They say to call Verizon, who "owns" all the numbers, get them to install the number, and then port the number to Cablevision.

Verizon agrees with me that they (VZ) do NOT "own" that block of numbers, and that Cablevision was granted or assigned that block when they got into the biz. Cablevision denies that.

Verizon cannot assign that number, or any number within that group. Question #3 is that correct?

Does anyone wish to comment?

Arthur P. Bloom
"30 years of faithful service...15 years on hold"